Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reaffirmed on Monday that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 would take place in Pakistan, despite India’s refusal to send its team for the tournament.
“We will achieve our target and God willing safely hold the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” he told reporters at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium regarding the situation.
Pakistan, the reigning champions after winning the last edition in England in 2017, is set to host the event from February 19 to March 9.
The longstanding political tensions between the two nations have prevented India from visiting Pakistan since 2008, with matches occurring only at multi-team events. Notably, during last year’s Asia Cup, India played all their games in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model.”
Last week, the ICC informed the PCB that the Board of Control for Cricket in India had officially communicated that India would not participate in the eight-nation tournament.
With the ICC expected to announce the Champions Trophy schedule by November 20, time is running out, as the matches are planned to be held at three venues across Pakistan: Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore.
When asked about any correspondence from the ICC regarding Pakistan’s stance of refusing to adopt a hybrid model, he said: “We wrote a letter and await a response. We only have interaction with ICC and are awaiting its response.”
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“I think the ICC will need to think about its own credibility, that it is a body of all cricket bodies,” Naqvi said and reiterated that all the other teams who qualified for the Champions Trophy have no issue regarding their visit to the country.
“I say right now as well, that if India has any concern, they should come and talk to us, and we will alleviate their concerns because I don’t think there’s any reason for them not to come to Pakistan,” he said.
“Our stance is clear, we have said it before and we will stick to that stance.”
